Opinion: Living in Fear.

Have you looked around lately?  Somewhere over the last couple of decades, we in America have evolved from a society that believed nothing was beyond our reach to one where we are told we must live in fear.  There is so much to be afraid of I can hardly keep track of it all.  Fear is a powerful tool for those elected to office.  I imagine they live in fear of not being reelected, but they use our fears to control the dialogue and play us against one another.

Both sides do this, they just seem to play to opposing fears.

Take, for example, the COVID virus.  We are in such fear of this virus we shut down the economic engine that fuels our nation.  Historically, the role of the President has been to calm our fears and energize the nation forward, but with this President and the political opposition to him each and every statement he makes is questioned and there is little chance of finding an optimistic way forward.  While the COVID virus is more lethal than the average flu, it is certainly not as lethal as the 1918 Spanish Flu pandemic, which took the lives of between 50 and 100-million people (and infected roughly 1/3 of the world's population).  Because of that fear we see several political agendas being played out by the two political parties.

The fear of infection has led to the Democratic party to call for the mass distribution of mail-in ballots.  Allegedly to ensure the sick and elderly are not exposed to this deadly virus.  At the same time even, the Democratic party-controlled states are reopening stores, restaurants, and other non-essential services so people may begin to resume a (somewhat) normal life.  We expect people to minimize risk by social distancing and wearing often ineffective masks as a cosmetic acknowledgment to our concerns.

Of course, the Republicans must take the opposing view and point out the potential for voter fraud or election manipulation by those in control of the voting process as a reason this is a terrible idea.  For states who made the decision to allow mail-in voting before the pandemic you could make a sound argument this is a false flag, but NY States' recent experience with their primary elections certainly suggests a high probability of widespread problems with an impartial certification of election results.  As we saw in 2016, we’ve become a nation of sore losers so it is unlikely whoever wins the election will garner opposition support.

To keep those fears alive the Democratic party has now begun a campaign showing the President is attempting to dismantle the U.S. Post Office so people can’t vote.  Those who seek to mail in their ballots are, of course, outraged.  Those who think mail-in voting is a fraud are happy.  In the end, the truth about the Post Office and what President Trump is or isn’t doing is probably irrelevant, it is just another strategy to remove our optimism and keep us a divided and manageable population.

Of course, the Democratic party is not alone in its use of fear as a tactic to control its supporters or divide the country.  The Republican party will do the same thing.  As those on the left call for gun controls, the Republican party will invest in raising the outrage of those who believe in the right to bear arms and point out how all those on the left want to take all our guns.  Unfortunately for the Democratic party, there are enough extremists who voice this message that it carries a solid ring of truth to it.

As we look at the riots and violence (AKA Peaceful Protests) destroying so much of our major cities like Chicago, Seattle, Portland, and NYC we see the Republican’s use of that violence to claim if the Democrats win the White House, and the Congress, we will become a socialist nation and suffer the same fate as Venezuela.  The fact Democratic politicians will not condemn the violence gives some credence to that argument for most suburban and rural voters.

I think it is clearly time for the Baby Boomer generation to hand over the reins of leadership, but it doesn’t appear either party has suitable replacements, at least for this election.  So we come into this contest with a President who despite all the bad press has a track record of growing the economy and an opponent with 44+ years of being a politician who promises to fix things if elected but without much more to show for those promises. 

The talking head pundits on TV say we need to have a debate before mail-in ballots are cast, but as I look around, I’m pretty much convinced that is unnecessary.  Everyone has already decided which party they will vote for and the name on the top of the ticket is just a name.  Those who will vote for President Trump will do so despite his personal flaws, and those who will vote for Biden will do so despite his apparent failing mental capacity.

In the end, we will let the politicians and media play to our fears and we will remain divided, regardless of the soothing emotional words, the DNC puts out about how kind and gentle their candidates are.

Fear

While I don’t think of myself as especially unique I’ve come to believe in some aspects I must be.  As I watch this pandemic unfold I watch the responses of some and see the anger and fear in their posts.  I made the mistake of asking one person to explain why she was angry and what she would do differently.  This exercise failed for all it did was solicit a non-committal response.  The individual was mad at how others were behaving.  Those others were behaving in ways the politicians and talking heads had told them were inappropriate and now the individual was mad.

This seems to be the way for so many of us.  We want the government to keep us safe, and when it appears the government isn’t doing enough to keep us safe we are mad.  We’re mad at the governments, we’re mad at those who might possibly threaten us, and we’re mad in general because we are afraid.  Fear is a powerful emotion, it overwhelms reason, and for those who have come to believe we in the United States have so little to fear when it strikes all else is put aside.

For me, I’ve been in situations where fear was real, but all I could do was follow my training and do my job.  I expect that is true for most defenders of our nation, whether in the military or in public services like a fire or police department.  While I can’t personally speak to the courage of a firefighter I am sure it is real for they willingly go into situations where their lives are at risk, and many of them don’t come out.  Are they afraid when they go?  I’m sure there is a degree of fear, but like so many brave souls, they’ve learned to compartmentalize it and follow their training.  Trusting in God, or in their training, all will work out in the end.  When you’ve not had to make these kinds of choices in your life I think you are struck by the risks you had not thought existed.

That is what this pandemic has done, it has brought to so many a fear they can’t control and how they react is unique and individual for each of us.  Some become compulsive in their actions, others look to the guidelines as if they are sacred scripture and others lock themselves away afraid for their own safety, as well as others, from an enemy they can’t see and don’t know how to fight.